INSERT NAME EVENT/CONFERENCE DATE P REVENTING C HILD N EGLECT : I T ’ S M ORE THAN A F AMILY A FFAIR.

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PREVENTING CHILD NEGLECT:IT’S MORE THAN A FAMILY AFFAIR

AGENDA

• Welcome & Introductions• Definition & the Basics of Child Neglect • Preventing Child Neglect Initiative• Preventing Child Neglect: the Socio-Ecological Model• What You Can Do…at each level of S-E Model• Your Comments, Observations & Questions

The Father of Children’s Trust Funds

• Ray Helfer, MD conceived of and advocated for state children’s trust and prevention funds.

• The first Children’s Trust Fund was created in the state of Kansas in 1980, beginning a national movement for developing CTFs in all states.

• Support from the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) has always been important to CTFs

Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds (CTFs)

• In almost every state.• Focus on

strengthening families to prevent child abuse and neglect before it occurs.

• Catalyze and support prevention efforts at the individual, family, community and societal levels.

CTFs Hold Multiple Roles

• About 60% are the state CBCAP lead agency

• About 25% are the state Prevent Child Abuse America chapter

• Many are licensed to manage specific programs in their state

Provide $200 million in funding

• Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds annually provide about $200 million in funding for state-wide and community-based child abuse and neglect prevention strategies and leverage even greater amounts of funding.

National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds

The Alliance was established in 1989 to:Promote and support a national network of strong

state children’s trust and prevention funds (CTFs)Initiate and engage in national efforts that help CTFs

in strengthening families to prevent child abuse and neglect.

Promote and support a system of services, laws, practices and attitudes that supports families by enabling them to provide their children with safe, healthy, and nurturing childhoods.

National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds

Alliance is the membership organization for state children’s trust and prevention funds

Multi-year focus on helping CTFs, their state systems partners and community programs support families in building protective factors

Strong collaborations with other national organizations and federal partners

Commitment to partnering with parents and community members

Slide on State Trust Fund

About Neglect…It’s Important to Remember

There is sometimes a fine line between parental neglect of children and societal neglect of families

The result for the children can be equally devastating

Neglect prevention strategies can be quite different and include policies, practices, programs, financing, economic development, support for basic needs, etc.

THE SEARCH FOR A DEFINITION

While there is no singular definition of child neglect, a generic statement that is unlikely to be refuted is:

Child Neglect is a failure to meet children’s basic needs – whether the failure is the responsibility of parents, communities or society – and this void places children in harm’s way.

Conceptualizing Neglect

Parental neglect of children

Societal neglect of families

Community neglect of families

Societal neglect of community

BASICS OF CHILD NEGLECT

Neglect is not one monolithic category – subtypes include physical, medical, emotional & educational neglect, & inadequate supervision

Dominant and most pervasive form of CA/N 70% of all child fatalities (2012) Only type of CA/N that has not declined in recent years More likely to recur that other forms of CA/N When recurring, cumulative impacts to child over time Can seriously impair child’s physical, cognitive, & social

and emotional development

BASICS OF CHILD NEGLECT

No single cause of neglectFour evidence-informed characteristics that

contribute to or are associated with child neglect Low socio-economic status Maternal depression and mental health disorders Substance abuse Interpersonal violence

INITIATIVE’S SCOPE OF WORK: PREVENTING CHILD NEGLECT

Alliance’s Neglect Prevention InitiativeIntegrating six years of work on the Strengthening

Families Protective Factor Framework Literature reviewKey informant interviewsCreating a research-informed approach to child

neglect preventionIdentifying strategies that prevent child neglectLeading a national conversation

Social-Ecological Modeland Protective Factors

Society

Community/Neighborhood

Family/Relationships

Child/Individual

Knowledge of Parenting & Child Development

Parent Resilience

Social Connections

Social and Emotional Competence of Children

Concrete Supports in Times of Need

Concrete Supports in Times of Need

Spectrum of Preventionwww.preventioninstitute.org

Influencing Legislation and Policy

Changing Organizational Practices

Fostering Coalitions & Networks

Educating Providers

Promoting Community Education

Strengthening Individual Knowledge & Skills

KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEWEES

Variety of experiences/perspectivesSelected CTF directorsResearchersPolicy ExpertsPractitioners/Social WorkersFamily MembersCross Disciplinary Professionals

KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Risk and Protective Factors at each of four levels of Socio - Ecological Model

What is working well at family, community, system and policies to prevent neglect from occurring?

What efforts need to be made to make significant impact on preventing neglect from occurring?

Role/contributions to be made by the AllianceRole/contributions to be made by the CTFs

MOST FREQUENTLY IDENTIFIED PROTECTIVE FACTORS

Understanding of/Focus on Brain ArchitectureUniversal Early Childhood Education &

DevelopmentStandard of Adequate Parent Care /Parenting

BehaviorsResources to Meet Family’s NeedsCompetent Parenting

MOST FREQUENTLY IDENTIFIED RISK FACTORS

History of TraumaPoverty/Insufficient ResourcesMaternal Depression/Mental HealthSubstance AbuseDevaluing/minimizing challenges

associated with raising children

Poverty has a Sense of Urgency

Action is Needed to:Shore up the safety net Raise political awareness about poverty Reframe issues & narratives in ways that

reduce or eliminate polarization of our reactions to social problems

Move discussion from incriminating parents to examining context & communities in which almost all parents are trying to raise children safely

A Research-Based Action-Oriented Approach to Preventing Child Neglect

SO WHAT CAN WE ALL DO TO GET FROM

HERE…

A CALL TO ACTION TO PREVENT

CHILD NEGLECT

A Research-Based Action-Oriented Approach to Preventing Child Neglect

TOTHERE

OUTCOMESSafe & Healthy ChildrenStrong & Stable FamiliesSupportive and Thriving

CommunitiesHumanitarian Society

FOUNDATIONAL REQUISITESTHE GIVENS

Acknowledge Existence & Increase Public Awareness Recognize the Ramifications of Inaction to Children’s

Brain Development and Health (short-term) and our Nation’s Economic Prosperity (long-term)

Develop Needed Partnerships and Relevant Resources to Take Action

Embrace Preventative Strategies to Reduce the Incidence and Prevalence of Child Neglect

Intervene & Effectively Treat Child Neglect Address All Areas of the Social Ecology

Call to Action:

PREVENT CHILD NEGLECT Acknowledge existence and increase public awareness of child neglect Recognize the ramifications of inaction Embrace strategies to reduce incidence and prevalence of child

neglect Intervene and effectively treat child neglect

SOCIETYFederal laws and public policies that• Remediate child and family poverty• Meet children’s basic needs• Increase supports of family policies• Support father involvement• Develop partnerships with families• Respect culturally diverse practices• Promote universal approaches that target

very young children and families• Encourage comprehensive, integrative

approaches Public will and social norms that • Encourage giving of ourselves to benefit

those less fortunate• Eliminate stigma associated with needing and

asking for help• Expect formal and informal leaders to “walk

the talk”Federal and state financing that • Invests in cost-effective prevention efforts• Funds strategies/programs that collectively

meet the multi-dimensional needs of families• Prioritizes research funding (including

neuroscience)

COMMUNITYNeighborhood

• Available/accessible/affordable/quality Food Housing Education Child care Transportation Health care Job opportunities/living income Social supports

• Safe, stable and nurturing environment

• Parent participation in local endeavors

• Community culture of collaboration• Concrete supports in times of need• Linkages to quality services when

needed• Culturally specific services and

supports• Research-based services selection

to enhance child and family well-being

FAMILYRelationship

Strategies and methods that build and sustain• Strong families• Healthy partner

relationship• Nurturing and attachment• Fathers’ involvement• Social connections• Family’s ability to provide

basic needs for children• Parents as key decision-

makers in their own families

INDIVIDUALParent/

Caregiver/ChildStrategies and methods that build and sustain• Physical, emotional and

economic well-being• Knowledge of parenting

and child development• Parental resilience• Social and emotional

competence of children• Parent’s ability to obtain

assistance if needed

OUTCOMES: Safe and Healthy Children

Strong and Stable

Families

Supportive and Thriving

Communities

Humanitarian Society

A WISH LIST AT THE SOCIETY LEVEL

Advances in neuroscienceGovernment policies and programs that

provide economic supportRecognize the importance of parenting & offer

education, social and material support to parents who are in need

Design prevention strategies that address all levels of socio-ecological model

Universal policies that support new parents

Call to Action:

PREVENT CHILD NEGLECT Acknowledge existence and increase public awareness of child neglect Recognize the ramifications of inaction Embrace strategies to reduce incidence and prevalence of child

neglect Intervene and effectively treat child neglect

SOCIETYFederal laws and public policies that• Remediate child and family poverty• Meet children’s basic needs• Increase supports of family policies• Support father involvement• Develop partnerships with families• Respect culturally diverse practices• Promote universal approaches that target

very young children and families• Encourage comprehensive, integrative

approaches Public will and social norms that • Encourage giving of ourselves to benefit

those less fortunate• Eliminate stigma associated with needing and

asking for help• Expect formal and informal leaders to “walk

the talk”Federal and state financing that • Invest in cost-effective prevention efforts• Fund strategies/programs that collectively

meet the multi-dimensional needs of families• Prioritize research funding (including

neuroscience)

COMMUNITYNeighborhood

• Available/accessible/affordable/quality Food Housing Education Child care Transportation Health care Job opportunities/living income Social supports

• Safe, stable and nurturing environment

• Parent participation in local endeavors

• Community culture of collaboration• Concrete supports in times of need• Linkages to quality services when

needed• Culturally specific services and

supports• Research-based services selection

to enhance child and family well-being

FAMILYRelationship

Strategies and methods that build and sustain• Strong families• Healthy partner

relationship• Nurturing and attachment• Fathers’ involvement• Social connections• Family’s ability to provide

basic needs for children• Parents as key decision-

makers in their own families

INDIVIDUALParent/

Caregiver/ChildStrategies and methods that build and sustain• Physical, emotional and

economic well-being• Knowledge of parenting

and child development• Parental resilience• Social and emotional

competence of children• Parent’s ability to obtain

assistance if needed

OUTCOMES: Safe and Healthy Children

Strong and Stable

Families

Supportive and Thriving

Communities

Humanitarian Society

Call to Action:

PREVENT CHILD NEGLECTSOCIETY

Federal laws and public policies that• Remediate child and family poverty• Meet children’s basic needs• Increase supports of family policies• Support father involvement• Develop partnerships with families• Respect culturally diverse practices• Promote universal approaches that target

very young children and families• Encourage comprehensive, integrative

approaches Public will and social norms that • Encourage giving of ourselves to benefit

those less fortunate• Eliminate stigma associated with needing and

asking for help• Expect formal and informal leaders to “walk

the talk”Federal and state financing that • Invest in cost-effective prevention efforts• Fund strategies/programs that collectively

meet the multi-dimensional needs of families• Prioritize research funding (including

neuroscience)

COMMUNITYNeighborhood

• Available/accessible/affordable/quality Food Housing Education Child care Transportation Health care Job opportunities/living income Social supports

• Safe, stable and nurturing environment

• Parent participation in local endeavors

• Community culture of collaboration• Concrete supports in times of need• Linkages to quality services when

needed• Culturally specific services and

supports• Research-based services selection

to enhance child and family well-being

FAMILYRelationship

Strategies and methods that build and sustain• Strong families• Healthy partner

relationship• Nurturing and attachment• Fathers’ involvement• Social connections• Family’s ability to provide

basic needs for children• Parents as key decision-

makers in their own families

INDIVIDUALParent/

Caregiver/ChildStrategies and methods that build and sustain• Physical, emotional and

economic well-being• Knowledge of parenting

and child development• Parental resilience• Social and emotional

competence of children• Parent’s ability to obtain

assistance if needed

OUTCOMES: Safe and Healthy Children

Strong and Stable

Families

Supportive and Thriving

Communities

Humanitarian Society

Acknowledge existence and increase public awareness of child neglect Recognize the ramifications of inaction Embrace strategies to reduce incidence and prevalence of child

neglect Intervene and effectively treat child neglect

Call to Action:

PREVENT CHILD NEGLECT Acknowledge existence and increase public awareness of child neglect Recognize the ramifications of inaction Embrace strategies to reduce incidence and prevalence of child

neglect Intervene and effectively treat child neglect

SOCIETYFederal laws and public policies that• Remediate child and family poverty• Meet children’s basic needs• Increase supports of family policies• Support father involvement• Develop partnerships with families• Respect culturally diverse practices• Promote universal approaches that target

very young children and families• Encourage comprehensive, integrative

approaches Public will and social norms that • Encourage giving of ourselves to benefit

those less fortunate• Eliminate stigma associated with needing and

asking for help• Expect formal and informal leaders to “walk

the talk”Federal and state financing that • Invest in cost-effective prevention efforts• Fund strategies/programs that collectively

meet the multi-dimensional needs of families• Prioritize research funding (including

neuroscience)

COMMUNITYNeighborhood

• Available/accessible/affordable/quality Food Housing Education Child care Transportation Health care Job opportunities/living income Social supports

• Safe, stable and nurturing environment

• Parent participation in local endeavors

• Community culture of collaboration• Concrete supports in times of need• Linkages to quality services when

needed• Culturally specific services and

supports• Research-based services selection

to enhance child and family well-being

FAMILYRelationship

Strategies and methods that build and sustain• Strong families• Healthy partner

relationship• Nurturing and attachment• Fathers’ involvement• Social connections• Family’s ability to provide

basic needs for children• Parents as key decision-

makers in their own families

INDIVIDUALParent/

Caregiver/ChildStrategies and methods that build and sustain• Physical, emotional and

economic well-being• Knowledge of parenting

and child development• Parental resilience• Social and emotional

competence of children• Parent’s ability to obtain

assistance if needed

OUTCOMES: Safe and Healthy Children

Strong and Stable

Families

Supportive and Thriving Communities

Humanitarian Society

Call to Action:

PREVENT CHILD NEGLECT• Acknowledge existence and increase public awareness of child neglect• Recognize the ramifications of inaction• Embrace strategies to reduce incidence and prevalence of child

neglect• Intervene and effectively treat child neglect

SOCIETYFederal laws and public policies that• Remediate child and family poverty• Meet children’s basic needs• Increase supports of family policies• Support father involvement• Develop partnerships with families• Respect culturally diverse practices• Promote universal approaches that target

very young children and families• Encourage comprehensive, integrative

approaches Public will and social norms that • Encourage giving of ourselves to benefit

those less fortunate• Eliminate stigma associated with needing and

asking for help• Expect formal and informal leaders to “walk

the talk”Federal and state financing that • Invest in cost-effective prevention efforts• Fund strategies/programs that collectively

meet the multi-dimensional needs of families• Prioritize research funding (including

neuroscience)

COMMUNITYNeighborhood

• Available/accessible/affordable/quality Food Housing Education Child care Transportation Health care Job opportunities/living income Social supports

• Safe, stable and nurturing environment

• Parent participation in local endeavors

• Community culture of collaboration• Concrete supports in times of need• Linkages to quality services when

needed• Culturally specific services and

supports• Research-based services selection

to enhance child and family well-being

FAMILYRelationship

Strategies and methods that build and sustain• Strong families• Healthy partner

relationship• Nurturing and attachment• Fathers’ involvement• Social connections• Family’s ability to provide

basic needs for children• Parents as key decision-

makers in their own families

INDIVIDUALParent/Caregiver

Strategies and methods that build and sustain• Physical, emotional

and economic well-being

• Knowledge of parenting and child development

• Parental resilience• Social and emotional

competence of children

• Parent’s ability to obtain assistance if needed

OUTCOMES: Safe and Healthy Children

Strong and Stable Families

Supportive and Thriving Communities

Humanitarian Society

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Somehow we have created divisions in order to organize and encapsulate the work and ultimately we have done a disservice to the impact that we are trying to achieve and a disservice to children and their families. We cannot be limited by programmatic levels; we have to put together research and theory and practice and policy in a way that can lead to transformational change. - Key Informant

THESE WORK WELL…LET’S Do MORE of Them

Home Visiting – universal & targetedFamily ConnectionProject Safe CareTriple P – Positive Parenting ProgramStrengthening Families InitiativeNurturing Parent ProgramEarly Head Start Incredible YearsCircle of Parents/ Parents Anonymous

IDENTIFYING THAT WHICH IS RELATEDAnd Joining the Existing Effort

Comprehensive Community Change InitiativesWI Community Response Program – Project

GainPromise Neighborhoods (DOE)Choice Neighborhoods (HUD)Invest in Children – Cuyahoga County, OHHelp Me Grow

What Can I Do…

…As a Member of SOCIETY? Communicate the importance of child neglect prevention

in all walks of life – Assume the role of advocate and champion whenever possible

Advocate to shore up the safety net Raise political awareness about poverty and the need to

alleviate it Reframe issues & narratives in ways that reduce or

eliminate polarization of our reactions to social problems Move discussion from incriminating parents to examining

the context and communities in which nearly all parents are trying to raise children safely

What Can I Do…

…As a Member of a COMMUNITY ? Communicate importance of child neglect prevention to your

neighbors Mobilize community members to establish “2-1-1” capacity to

identify and share information about resources to meet families’ needs

Establish means to expose “power leaders” to (1) families living in compromised environments & (2) efforts that effectively prevent child neglect…Facilitate this exposure.

Identify credible Story Tellers who are willing to publically share their personal narratives and promote opportunities to share these stories.

Offer and provide support to parents and others who share their personal narratives to educate others.

A Reminder That:

All families have strengths All communities have

strengths The solutions to

challenges are most often in the community

A little help from outside can leverage significant results

Community Cafés

Engaging community members in focused, structured discussions around questions that are important to child, family and community well-being.

Building partnerships with parents and building protective factors within a community

What Can I Do… …As a Member of a FAMILY ?

Demonstrate supportive parent-child Interactions both in your home and in public settings

Identify & remind parents of what they do well when stressful situations challenge their parenting confidence.

Form a playgroup where parents come together and support one another while their children play with peers.

Nurture your primary relationship and remember the importance of intimate partner relationship stability

Create or maintain opportunities and experiences that instill hope and promote optimism

What Can I Do……As An INDIVIDUAL?

Communicate the importance of child neglect prevention to others and whenever possible, enlist them in your efforts.

Become a resource to your local media on child neglect prevention as well as to civic, religious, and hobby groups that present opportunities to ‘spread the word.’

Change the dialogue – Create narratives that challenge the notion that support to families is overprotective.

Listen, empathize, and instill hope whenever you speak with families confronting challenges

Support families in building protective factors

We Wouldn’t Ask This of You….

…without offering some resources and support for your efforts.

Bringing the Protective FactorsFramework to Life in Your Work

Online training to support implementation of the Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors Framework in multiple settings

Systems may use it for awarding CEUs, other credits

Provided free of charge to users

7 courses,each about2 hours in lengtho Introduction to the

Framework (also useful as a stand-alone orientation)

o A course on each of the 5 Protective Factors

o A wrap-up course that moves users from knowledge to action

More information is available at: www.ctfalliance.org/onlinetrainingContact [email protected]

The Alliance is Now Training Others to Become Certified Trainers on This Course Material Adapted From the On-line Content. Those Completing the

3-Day Training of Trainers:

Become Certified Trainers and members of a national learning community of trainers from diverse fields who seek excellence in training around protective factors

Receive the Trainer’s Manual for all 7 courses Receive a limited license to use course materials to train local and

state audiences Receive access to the Alliance’s Trainer Support Site, offering the

ability to : Download all training materials Utilize a virtual library organized around the Protective

Factors Have access to a trainer forum

Participate in periodic Learning Community Networking Events with other Certified Trainers

Specific Neglect Prevention Materials

Executive Summary of the Key Informant Interviews

Special Editions of the Research ReviewOthers in Development Now

Research Review

• Alliance publication to share research and innovative approaches in the field of child abuse and neglect prevention

• Each edition includes a section that “spotlights” a particular area such as home visiting, preventing child neglect, program implementation science, etc.

• Each edition also includes “The Savvy Practitioner,” a section that helps those who are not researchers better understand and be able to implement the important research findings related to our work

• Helps bridge the gap between research and practicewww.ctfalliance.org/researchreview

Birth Parent National Network (BPNN)

For parents at risk of or already engaged in the child welfare system and the organizations that support them

Build knowledge base on engaging parents as strategic partners in policy activities

Disseminate knowledge and information to BPNN organizations and parents

Engage parents as partners to inform policy and practice Expand tools to train parents and organizations to

communicate messages and partner together to change practice and policy at state and federal levels.

Build a cohesive and unified national voice to inform policy and practice

Resources for Action Series

• A series of 13 publications, five videos and other resources developed by the Alliance in collaboration with children’s trust funds and their partners

• The focus is on partnering with parents, research, community capacity building, professional development, policy and collaboration

www.ctfalliance.org/ResourcesForAction

Contact Information

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